An animal collector has been arrested after failing to turn up to court.

Lee Thompson, 36, of King Edward Road, Laindon was arrested yesterday, Tuesday September 11 in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

He was arrested after failing to appear at Basildon Magistrates Court on August 17, where in his absence, he was found guilty of two counts of keeping a dangerous wild animal without a licence, two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and two counts of breaching a ban on keeping a dangerous wild animal.

He is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court today, Wednesday September 12.